Emergency rooms at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital are operating under higher-than-normal pressure, with patient volumes running well above average at both sites.
Hospital President and CEO Michael Cohen said demand in the ER is noticeably higher, leading to longer waits for some patients.
Cohen noted that while waits can feel long locally, they remain shorter than in many larger centres. He added that staff, physicians, and volunteers continue working to keep patients moving safely through the system.
Pressure is also being felt beyond the emergency department. Cohen said inpatient units at both hospitals are exceptionally full, limiting the ability to move patients out of the ER.
To manage demand, the hospital has opened five additional beds. Even so, Cohen said occupancy levels are often around 120 per cent, adding strain across both sites.
